Wire tensioning apparatus



Jan. 5, 1965 R. H. DAMMAR 5 WIRE TENSIONING APPARATUS Filed April 18,1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. A rMo/vfif AMMAR F/GJ p Ara-017M220 Jan.5, 1965 R. H. DAMMAR 3,154,335

WIRE TENSIONING APPARATUS Filed April 18, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Arrokzvevs" United States Patent 3,164,335 WIRE TENIONING APPARATUS Raymon Ii.Darnrnar, Minneapolis, Minn, assignor to Possis Machine Corporation,Minneapolis, Minn, a corporation of Minnesota Filed Apr. 18, 1963, Ser.No. 27.33% 8 Claims. (Cl. 24'2t47) The present invention relates to wirehandling devices and more particularly for an apparatus for adjustingthe tension of wire.

Numerous tensioning devices have been previously proposed for use incontrolling the tension of wire as it is fed from one location toanother. These prior devices have not, however, been entirelysatisfactory for some applications and in particular for the wrapping ofmotor and generator armatures and stators.

One of the tensioning devices which has been previously proposedincludes a pair of supporting elements and a plurality of flexiblefabric cords connected to the free ends of these elements. A length ofwire is allowed to pass through the ends of the support elements andbetween the fabric cords. When in use, the cords are twisted so thatthey frictionally engage the wire and in this way control its tension asit moves from one device to another. It has been found when thesemachines are used in wrapping armatures or" electric motor-s andgenerators that substantial ehort and time is required to relieve thetension exerted upon the wire, when it is necessary to pull wire throughthe apparatus by hand.

In view of these and other shortcomings of the prior art, it is thus oneobject of the present invention to provide an improved wire tensionregulator including a provision for quickly and easily relieving thetension exerted upon a wire so that the wire can be handled manuallywhen required.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improvedwire tensioning device of the type described in which tension can beapplied to the wire Without a tendency for jerking or grabbing.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improvedtension adjustment mechanism for wire including a fluid operated tensioncontrol assembly which is simple in construction, reliable in operationand can be manufactured at a relatively low cost.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent as thedescription proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, this inventionthen comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out in the claims, the following description setting forth indetail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these beingindicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which theprinciples of the invention may be employed.

The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which thesame numerals refer to corresponding parts and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a semidiagrammatic side elevational view of the presentinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the tensionregulating device according to the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE2;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the apparatus according to thepresent invention;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical transverse sectional'view taken on the line 6-6of FIGURE 4; and

3,14,335 Patented Jan. 5., 1965 Briefly stated, the present inventionprovides a wire tensioning device including a pair of spaced apartsupport members having a plurality of elongated flexible tensioningelements connected between the ends thereof and a biasing means forchanging the spacing between the support members. According to apreferred form of the present invention, the biasing means comprises acylinder having a plunger slidably mounted therein and a source of fluidpressure connected to the cylinder for urging the plunger toward one endthereof.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings and the following description wherein the same numerals referto corresponding parts in the several views.

Referring now to the drawings there is shown a wire tensioning deviceIt) including a horizontally disposed support plate 12 which is securedto a base 14 by means of suitable fasteners such as bolts 16. Rigidlysecured upon one end of the support plate 12 is a first verticallydisposed support element 18. A pair of generally triangular side platesZtl extend from the support 18 toward the other end of the plate 12 andare secured to support 13 by means of fasteners such as screws 22(FIGURE 4).

Pivotally connected between the ends of the plates 20 opposite thesupport 18 upon a pin 24 is a second support member 26 which is adaptedto pivot about a horizontally disposed transverse axis at the center ofthe pin 24 as will be described more fully hereinbelow. At the upper endof the support 26 is provided a longitudinally extending bore 28 withinwhich is mounted a support block 38 including a cylindrical portion 32of such a size as to turn easily within the bore 28. A shoulder 34 onblock prevents the movement of the block 30 through the bore 28 towardthe right as seen in FIGURES 2 through 5.

Four circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending openings 36 areprovided in the block 39 as well as a central wire opening 38 throughwhich a section of wire 4t) is adapted to pass when the apparatus is inoperation.

Referring again to FIGURE 1, it will be seen that the wire 4% is storedin a coil 42 which rests upon a rack 44 and passes from right to left inFIGURE 1, through the apparatus Ill and finally to a device which is toconsume the wire as for example an armature winding apparatus as ofknown construction only part of which is shown.

Extending through the opening 36 and secured at the outer end of theblock 30 are a plurality of elongated flexible tensioning elements 50.The elements are secured at the outward end of the block 3% by means ofknots 52 which serve to prevent their outward ends from passing throughthe openings 36. The opposite ends of elements 5% pass throughhorizontally disposed and parallel openings 54 which extend through theupward end of the support 18 and are secured at the right end of thesupport 18 as seen in FIGURES 2 through 5 by knots 56. At the upper endof the support 18 is a longitudinally extending bore 58 within which ismounted a guide tube 6t formed from a plastic resinous material such asnylon or polyethylene. The guide 66) is held in the bore 58 by means ofa set screw 62.

Operatively connected between the supporting framework and the support25 is a resilient member in the form of a spring 64 for yieldablybiasing support 26 toward the support 18. To this end the spring 64 isconnected to eye bolts 66 and 68 which are in turn connected to thesupports 26 and 18 respectively.

An adjustable biasing means in the form of an actuator 7% is alsoconnected between the supporting framework and the support 26. Theactuator '76 includes a plunger 72 rigidly mounted upon a rod 74connected at one end to the support 26 by the provision of an extensionthe position of FIGURES 2 and 3.

'78 which projects into an opening 813 in the support 26. The plunger 72is slidably mounted within a cylindrical bore or cylinder 32 and issealed therein by means of a resilient sealing element 84.

Theadedly mounted Within the support 18 is a valve 8d which communicatesthrough an opening 88 with the cylinder 82. The valve 86 includes aneedle 83 threaded therein at 96 in position to regulate the size of avalve port 92. which communicates between bore 3? and an inlet line 94.As shown in FIGURE 1 the line 94 is connected to a shutoff valve 96which can be operated either manually or with the foot. The valve 96communicates with an air supply tank or source of fluid pressure such asair supply tank 98 through a line 1%. Air is supplied to the tank 93 bymeans of a pump 192.

When the apparatus according to the present invention is to be operateda length of wire 40 is passed through the openings 59 and 38 in thesupport 18 and block 30. It will be assumed that compressed air ispresent in the tank 93. 'To begin operation, the operator should turnthe block 349 within the bore 28 to twist the tensioning elements 56from the position of FIGURES 4 and 5 to In the latter position thetensioning elements Stl will tightly enclose the wire 4t) and will exertacertain amount of tension thereon when the wire 49 is pulled throughthe apparatus. Next. the valve d6 is opened allowing compressed air topass from the tank 8 through line 94 into the valve 36 and into cylinder82 to the right of the plunger 72 thereby forcing rod 74 and the supportelement as toward the left in the figures. As this takes place, anincreasing force will be exerted upon the elongated elements 5t? therebyincreasing the tension exerted upon the wire re as it begins .to movethrough the apparatus. The needle 88 should be adjusted such that theopening of the valve 96 will not cause the tensioning members Sil toengage the wire 49 with a sudden jerking action. The needle 88 maytherefore be thought of as a control means for adjusting the rate atwhich the tension members Stl are placed under tension.

It is apparent that many modifications and variations of this inventionas hereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spiritand scope thereof. The specific embodiments described are given by wayof example only and the invention is limited only by the terms of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A wire tensioning device comprising in combination, a frameworkincluding a pair of spaced apart support members at least one of whichis movable, a plurality of elongated flexible spaced tensioning elementsconnected between said members, means for passing a wire through saidapparatus longitudinally of said element,

means for twisting said flexible tensioning elements, about said wireand into contact therewith and power means secured to a stationaryportion of said framework and said movable support member for movingsaid movable support member and thereby changing the spacing betweensaid support members to thereby substantially reduce and apply fully thetension exerted by said tensioning elements on said wire selectively.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a control means issecuredto said power means to regulate the rate at which spacing is applied tothe said support members by said power means.

3. A wire tensioning device comprising in combination, a supportingframework including a pair of spaced apart support members, at least oneof said members being movably mounted upon the framework so that thespacing between said members can be changed, a plurality of elongatedflexible tensioning elements connected between 5 d members, means forpassing a wire through said apparatus longitudinally of said elements,means enabling the elongated flexible tensioning elements to be twistedinto contact with the Wire, a means for changing the spacing betweensaid support members to thereby substantially reduce and apply fully,alternatively, the tension exerted by said elements on said wire, saidspacing changing means comprising a pneumatic cylinder operativclyconnected to one of said members, a plunger slidably mounted within saidcylinder and operatively con nected to the other of said members and ameans for fluid under pressure to said cylinder.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said fluid under pressureis connected to said cylinder and a shutoif valve is communicativelyconnected between said source of compressed air and said cylinder forregulating the operation of said spacing changing means.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein resili ent means isprovided for yieldably biasing said support members toward each other.

6. A wire tensioning apparatus comprising in combination. a supportingframework, a first support member mounted upon said framework at one endthereof, a second support member pivotally mounted upon said frameworkin space relationship with said first supporting member for pivotalmovement with respect to said frame work, a support block mounted uponsaid second support member for rotational movement about an axisextending between said first and second support memhers, a pluarlity offlexible members connected at one end to said support block and at theother end to said first support member, said block and said firstsupport member including an opening adapted to receive a length of wire,said elongated flexible tensioning elements being positioned to extendsubstantially parallel, said length of wire extending between said firstmember and said block, the rotation of said support block being adaptedto twist said elements into engagement with the length of wire extendingbetween said first support member and said block, resilient meansoperatively connected between said supporting framework and said secondsupport element for yieldably urging the free end of said second supportmember to move toward said first support member, and a releasablebiasing means for moving said second support member and said block awayfrom said first support and against the tension of said resilient meansto control the application of tension exerted by said flexible membersupon said wire.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said releasable biasingmeans comprises a plunger operatively connected at one end to saidsecond support element and slidably mounted at the other end within saidfirst support element and a conduit means communicatively connected withsaid first support element to supply fluid to said cylinder for forcingsaid plunger to move in the direction of said second support member.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein an adjustment valve iscommunicatively connected with said conduit for regulating the flow offluid therein.

References Qiltf in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,426,631 Mapes Sept. 2, l947

1. A WIRE TENSIONING DEVICE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, A FRAMEWORKINCLUDING A PAIR OF SPACED APART SUPPORT MEMBERS AT LEAST ONE OF WHICHIS MOVABLE, A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED FLEXIBLE SPACED TENSIONING ELEMENTSCONNECTED BETWEEN SAID MEMBERS, MEANS FOR PASSING A WIRE THROUGH SAIDAPPARATUS LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID ELEMENT, MEANS FOR TWISTING SAIDFLEXIBLE TENSIONING ELEMENTS, ABOUT SAID WIRE AND INTO CONTACT THEREWITHAND POWER MEANS SECURED TO A STATIONARY PORTION OF SAID FRAMEWORK ANDSAID MOVABLE SUPPORT MEMBER FOR MOVING SAID MOVABLE SUPPORT MEMBER ANDTHEREBY CHANGING THE SPACING BETWEEN SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS TO THEREBYSUBSTANTIALLY RESUCE AND APPLY FULLY THE TENSION EXERTED BY SAIDTENSIONING ELEMENTS ON SAID WIRE SELECTIVELY.